Author's Note: I can't believe that Hiromu Arakawa already finished the series! I wanted it to continue…sniff…sniff. But I love the end but still depressed that it ended. So since I'm a bit down let's put a bit of angst in this… mwahahaha!

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA! I just love it. A lot.

Chapter five: Nightmare

"Hahahaha!"

The wind is in my hair as a blow past the fields and scenery.

"Hurry up Al! Mom wants the groceries already!"

I look back and see Al chasing after me, even carrying a basket I'm still faster. We reach out house on the hill and I speed up to the door. Al is behind me smiling. I pull open the door and look inside. My heart stops, on the floor lay unconscious, was our mother. Her forehead was beaded with sweat and her breathing was rough.

"MOM!"

Granny Pinako's words ring through my head,

"she must have had this illness for a while now, but kept it secret from everyone to prevent them from worrying…"

Al watches his brother sleep. He already knows that his brother is having a nightmare; they were always present when Ed has a fever.

It doesn't seem that bad, I don't think I should wake him. If he starts to panic then I will wake him.

Al looks down at Ed's pained face and reconsiders his idea of not waking Ed. He needs rest. I'm sure he'll be fine… All Al could do was watch his brother sleep and hope that his nightmare passes.

"Mom…"

"Brother what do we say to mom when we finished the transmutation?"

That was an easy question.

"Don't tell our teacher!"

Al laughs at my joke but we were both sort of serious. Teacher would have our heads if she ever found out about this.

"Ready Al?"

"Uh-huh."

I thought our transmutation was going to work. How could I have been so stupid?

"AAAAAAAALLLL! Mom? Mom help me… please…"

I see her and immediately freeze. That's not her! What have I done? My heart stops again as I realize that I was alone in this world.

Al! AL! AALL!

I'm so sorry!

"AL! AL! NOOOOOO! I'M SORRY! PLEASE COME BACK I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE! GIVE HIM BACK!"

Ed thrashed on his bed. Al immediately got up and shook his brother's shoulders.

"Brother wake up! Don't worry it was just a nightmare. I'm here brother."

Ed eyes flicker open and looks at Al in the eyes and hugs him tightly. Panting, Ed manages to speak to Al,

"Al… I'm sorry… for keeping my fever… a secret! I'm so sorry… I don't ever want…. you to feel… alone…ever."

Al felt a pang of guilt hit him as he recalled what he said to Ed about leaving him alone.

"Shhh… brother. Everything is alright now. You don't have to worry about me. I'm right here."

Ed kept hugging Al until they heard a knock on the door.

"Can I come in?" said a sleepy Winry.

Ed let go of Al and called her inside.

"Hey Winry *cough* good to see you. Sorry for waking you…nightmare."

Winry walked over to Ed and smiled. She didn't really mind to be woken up, she was just happy to see him awake. Besides she was expecting him to wake up if he did have a nightmare.

"Don't worry about it. How are you feeling?" She asked.

"Um… tired and I have a headache, but that aside I feel fine…"

Winry gently pushed him back into the bed and felt his forehead.

He still has a fever, and his forehead is really sweaty. I think he need more rest.

Winry sighed and flashed out her wrench. Ed immediately went a shade paler (if possible) and cowered in his sheets.

"You idiot! How could you get sick like that and try to keep it a secret? Jeez Edward grow up!"

She sighed again and put away her wrench (only god knows where…)

"S-s-sorry Win-Winry… f-f-for ma-making y-you wo-worry…" Winry immediately looked down and looked at Ed.

He looks scared. It's not like I'm going to hit him when he's sick…okay maybe I would… or wait… maybe he's cold, it's a pretty cold night outside…

Winry moved to the bottom of the bed and pulled the blankets over Ed.

"Stop talking and get back to sleep, okay?"

Edward thanked her and Al for taking care of him, again. The two friends thought that he really must have had a bad dream because he would never say this unless force upon.

Winry changed the cloth on Ed's forehead seeing that the last one had already heated up from Ed's body heat.

"It's nice to see you again Ed. Have a nice sleep."

Winry smiled and headed for the door.

"Yeah…you too."

Winry grabbed the door knob and closed the door. In the hallway Winry's worried frown slowly turned into a smile as she blushed a light pink and headed back toward her room.

"Hey… Al?"

Al looked at Ed's worried face and asked him what was wrong.

"Um… I'm not sure but I have a really bad feeling that something is going to happen… could it be? No there's no way…"

Al went back to Ed's bed and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Brother just tell me. Remember? No secrets."

Should I really tell him? I could just be imagining things. But better safe than sorry I guess.

"Well you know how yesterday we fought those alchemists? One escaped and I can't help but wondering what he is going to do… is he going to come after us or did he run away? What happens if he tries to attack us while Winry is here? What if she gets hurt?"

Ed's voice staggered at the last sentence as he thought about his childhood friend getting hurt because of him.

"Don't worry about it brother. I'll protect both of you tonight and keep an eye on the both of you? Okay? So just sleep so you can finish giving that report to the colonel."

Ed faked a smile and snuggled into his sheets and went back to his sleep.

I just hope nothing goes wrong with your plan Al…

Author's Note: Ugh. I'm getting worse at writing. I'll try to make it more interesting the next chapter…but it is not guaranteed.